Dental impression tray



Aug. 10, 1937. HERgHAU 2,089,206

DENTAL IMPRESS ION TRAY Filed April 25, 1956 INVENTOR.

BYIMWUWW Patented Aug. 10, 1 937 UNHTED, STATEfi PATENT orries 2,089,206 7 DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Nathan Hershau, New York, N. Y.

Application April 25, 1936, Serial No. 76,330

4 Claims.

This invention relates to dental impression trays and is an improvement upon the tray shown in my patent bearing Number 2,035,232 and dated March 24, 1936.

One object of my invention is to provide a dental impression tray comprising two tray sections pivotally connected at either one or both ends, so that the said tray may be used in connection with the upper or lower teeth and on either the right or left side of the mouth.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a tray which after the impression has been taken and the plaster has set, the said tray and impression may be readilyremoved from the mouth of the patient without distorting the impression and without inconvenience to the patient and dentist.

Another object is to produce a device of the character described in which the maximum simplicity of construction and operation is secured.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and co-relation of parts herein fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference characters are used to describe corresponding parts throughout the several views, and then finally pointed out and specifically defined and indicated in the appended claims.

The disclosure made the basis of exemplifying the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodiment thereof, but the invention is not to be restricted to the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter, therefore, is to be understood from an illustrative, rather than a re-. strictive standpoint.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved dental impression tray; 1

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the upper tray section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lower tray section;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1l, Fig. 6, and

Fig.8 is a side view of a split cotter pin which may be used in place of one of the pivot studs.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I!) indicates the lower tray section and l l the upper tray section. The lower tray section It] has a base 12 having end portions l3 each of which has a flaring slot I4. The tray section [0 is further provided with an outer substantially high wall i 5 which is slightly curved to conform to the contour of the gums, and with inner upstanding, spaced-apart projections IS. The upper tray section I I has an outer wall I1 and inner spacedapart upright projections I8 extending from the base l9 thereof which is provided with circular ends 20 each provided with a square or rectangular opening 2|. The tray section II is further provided with horizontal extensions 22 which are adapted to fit into the spaces 23 between the upstanding projections It on the tray section II] to properly align the said tray sections. 20

The tray sections Ill and H may normally be held together by a pair of wing screws or studs 25 each provided with a square shoulder 26 extending into the openings 2! of the uppertray section I l and the said screws are further provided with cylindrical shanks 21 which are threaded at their ends and which project through the slots I l of the lower tray section II] and are maintained in place by wing nuts 28 which engage the threaded shanks 21. 30

In practice the two tray sections 10 and H are assembled and held together by the screws 25 and nuts 28. The plaster while still wet and loose is placed between the walls l5 and I? and the tray is inserted into the mouth of the patient and pressed over the teeth operated upon, be they upper, lower, right or left. When the plaster is sufiiciently hardened or set one of the screws 25 is removed by loosening its nut 28 and the tray sections are then spread apart by inserting the end of a suitable tool (not shown) into the slot 30 at the end of the tray from which the screw 25 has been removed and twisting the said tool thus spreading the tray sections at the said end, and causing a pivotal movement be- 45 tween the tray sections at their opposite ends; the projections l6 and I8 causing the plaster to part or sever along a line 3| (see Fig. 3). When thus parted the tray sections with their respective halves of the plaster mold are free to be separated at their pivot point and removed from the mouth of the patient. The tray is then again assembled and secured and is ready to be sent to the dental mechanic so that he may perform all necessary work thereon.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a split cotter pin 32 which may be used in place of one of the screws 25 for locking or holding the tray sections together at the end opposite the pivot.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a simple, efficient, reversible dental impression tray adapted to be universally used on either side of the mouth and upon either the upper or lower jaw, the said tray being readily inserted into and withdrawn from the mouth without inconvenience to either the patient or dentist and without distorting the impression obtained.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 15:

l. A dental impression mold tray, comprising a tray section, a base on the said tray section having an angular opening at each end thereof, an outer wall extending from the base, a plurality of inner vertical projections on the said base, a second tray section, a base on the said second tray section having slotted ends in alignment with the angular openings in the first tray section, an outer wall on the base of the second tray section, a plurality of inner projections on the said second tray section adapted to be brought into contact with the inner projections of the first tray section, a stud at each end of the. tray sections, the said studs each comprising a rectangular shoulder which passes through the rectangular opening in the first tray section, 9. cylindrical shank passing through the slotted ends 5; of the second tray section, a threaded end on the said shank, and a nut on the said end for the purpose specified.

2. A dental impression mold tray, comprising a tray section, a base on the said tray section having an angular opening at each end thereof, an outer wall extending from the base, a plurality of inner vertical projections on the said base, a second tray section, a base on the said second tray section having slotted ends in alignment with the angular openings in the first tray section, an outer Wall on the base of the second tray section, a plurality of inner vertical projections on the said second tray section adapted to be brought into contact with the inner projections of the first tray section and means passing through the perforated and slotted ends of the tray sections for pivotally and separably securing the said tray sections.

3. A dental impression mold tray, comprising a pair of tray sections, means for pivotally and separably securing the said tray sections at both ends, the said means comprising angular openings at the ends of one of the said sections, slotted ends on the other of said tray sections, and studs passing through the perforated and slotted ends 01' the said tray sections.

4. A trough-shaped dental impression tray open at its ends and comprising companion side sections extending longitudinally of the tray, and releasable fasteners for detachably and pivotally connecting ends of the sections with each other at both ends of the tray whereby the sections may be released at either end and swung open from their other ends.

NATHAN HERSI-IAU. 

